Breastfeeding Gear
If you’ve ever walked into a baby store while pregnant and wandered into the breastfeeding aisle, you’ve probably had the same moment many mums do.
You start picking things up and reading the labels. Milk catchers. Nipple shields. Gel packs. Pumping bras. And somewhere between the third and fourth product you realise… I have no idea if I’m supposed to buy this.
The truth is, breastfeeding doesn’t require a long shopping list. Many mums begin with nothing more than a baby, a comfortable place to sit, and a bit of time while both of you figure it out together.
But the shelves tell a different story.
The Reverse Checklist
This page is the opposite of a “must-buy” list. Instead, it’s a reverse checklist that explains what these items are and when mums find them helpful.
Most families won’t need many of them. But knowing what they’re for can make it much easier to decide what’s worth trying and what you can comfortably skip.
You can use it to build your own short list, or download the printable checklist to screenshot for when you're at the shops.
Breastfeeding Gear You Might Come Across
A quick look at the breastfeeding products you might see in stores.
When you start browsing breastfeeding gear, it can feel like there are dozens of different products you’re supposed to understand straight away. This section shows many of the items you might see on the shelves. You don’t need to know what they all do yet, the explanations come next.
What All These Breastfeeding Things Actually Do
Once you start looking more closely at breastfeeding gear, you’ll notice that most items are designed to solve a very specific problem. Some mums never encounter those problems at all. Others find one or two products incredibly helpful during certain stages of feeding.
The explanations below explain what each item does and when it could be useful.
Baby Bottles
Baby bottles are used if your baby drinks expressed breast milk instead of feeding directly from the breast.
Some mums use bottles occasionally if someone else is helping with feeds. Others use them regularly if they are pumping milk.
If you’re planning to exclusively breastfeed in the early weeks, you may not need bottles straight away. Many families only introduce them later once feeding is established.
Breast Pads
Breast pads sit inside your bra and absorb milk leaks.
Leaking is very common in the early weeks while your milk supply is still adjusting. Some mums leak quite a lot, especially during night feeds or when one breast lets down while the baby feeds on the other. Other mums barely leak at all.
If you do leak, breast pads help keep clothing dry and make things feel a bit more comfortable.
Breastfeeding Probiotics
Breastfeeding probiotics are supplements containing beneficial bacteria that may support gut health and are sometimes recommended to help reduce the risk of mastitis.
Some mums take them as a preventative measure if they’ve had repeated blocked ducts or mastitis in the past, and many mums never use them at all.
Breastfeeding Caddy
A breastfeeding caddy is simply a small organiser where you keep the things you tend to reach for during feeds. Things like breast pads, nipple cream, burp cloths, snacks, water, or pump parts.
It’s one of those items you don’t technically need, but many mums find helpful once they realise how often they end up sitting down to feed and wishing everything was already within reach.
Burp Cloths
Burp cloths catch milk dribbles, spit-up, and the general mess that comes with newborn feeding. Some babies spit up a lot. Others barely do.
Most families end up using small cloths or muslins simply because they’re easy to grab during and after feeds.
Colostrum Syringes
Colostrum syringes are sometimes used to collect small amounts of colostrum in the early days after birth. Colostrum is the thick, golden first milk your body makes before mature milk comes in.
Some mums collect it during pregnancy or in the first days after birth if baby is struggling to latch or needs a little extra help feeding. Many mums never use them at all.
Electric Breast Pump
An electric breast pump uses suction to express breast milk.
Some mums use pumps regularly if they are returning to work, building a milk freezer stash, or sharing feeds with another caregiver. Others only pump occasionally, or never.
For many breastfeeding mums, pumping doesn’t become relevant until several weeks or months into feeding.
Gel Packs
Breast gel packs can be used warm or cold to help soothe sore breasts.
Some mums find them helpful if breasts feel swollen when milk first comes in, or during periods of engorgement or blocked ducts.
They’re not something every mum needs, but they can feel very relieving when breasts are tender.
Lactation Ball
A lactation ball is a small textured ball used to gently massage the breast while feeding or pumping.
Some mums find that light massage can help encourage milk flow or relieve areas that feel firm or blocked. It’s most commonly used during pumping or when working through clogged ducts.
Many mums never use one at all, but some like having something simple that helps them massage the breast without using their fingers for long periods.
Lactation Cookies
Lactation cookies are snacks made with ingredients like oats and flaxseed that are believed to support milk supply. Some mums enjoy them as an easy snack during breastfeeding. Others never use them.
The most important factors for milk supply are usually frequent feeding and good latch, but some mums like having these as an extra support.
Lactation Tea
Lactation teas are herbal blends traditionally used to support milk supply.
Some mums enjoy the ritual of drinking them during breastfeeding, especially in the early weeks.
Others don’t notice much difference and skip them entirely.
Manual Breast Pump
A manual breast pump is a small, handheld pump used to express milk.
Some mums like having one for occasional use because it’s quiet, portable, and inexpensive.
It’s often used for the odd missed feed or to relieve pressure if breasts feel overly full.
Milk Catcher
A milk catcher is a small silicone cup worn on the breast that isn’t feeding.
When milk lets down, many mums notice the other breast leaks at the same time. A milk catcher simply collects that milk instead of letting it soak into clothing.
Some mums love them. Others find they don't leak or prefer breast pads instead.
Milk Storage Bags
Storage bags are used to freeze or store expressed breast milk.
If you’re pumping regularly, they make it easier to label and store milk safely in the fridge or freezer. If you’re mostly feeding directly from the breast, you may not need these for quite some time.
Nipple Cream
Nipple cream helps soothe sore or cracked nipples. Tender nipples are very common in the early days while both mum and baby are learning how to latch comfortably.
Some mums use cream frequently in the beginning. Others find that once feeding settles, they stop needing it altogether.
Nipple Massager
A nipple massager is a small handheld device designed to stimulate the nipple before feeding or pumping.
Some mums use them to help trigger let-down when pumping, or to gently stimulate nipples that are flat or slow to respond. For most mums, baby’s sucking does this naturally.
But some find the extra stimulation helpful during pumping sessions when milk isn’t flowing easily.
Nipple Shields
Nipple shields are thin silicone covers placed over the nipple during feeding. They’re sometimes used if baby struggles to latch, or if nipples are very sore.
Because they can change how baby feeds, they’re usually recommended with guidance from a lactation consultant or midwife rather than as a first step.
Nursing Bra
A nursing bra has clips or panels that open so the baby can feed easily without removing the bra. Many mums find them more comfortable once milk comes in and breasts feel heavier.
But plenty of mums simply wear soft crop tops or regular stretchy bras in the early weeks.
Nursing Cover
A nursing cover is a lightweight fabric used if a mum prefers a little extra privacy when feeding in public.
Some mums use them often. Others quickly discover their baby prefers to feed without anything covering them.
They can also be helpful for babies who become easily distracted while feeding, as the cover can create a quieter little space that helps them stay focused on the feed.
Nursing Necklace
A nursing necklace is a long necklace made with baby-safe beads designed for baby to hold while feeding.
Many babies go through a stage where their hands are busy grabbing hair, clothing, or anything within reach during feeds. Some mums wear nursing necklaces to give baby something safe to fiddle with instead.
Not every baby is interested, and many mums simply let baby hold their fingers or clothing instead.
Nursing Pillow
A nursing pillow supports your baby’s weight during feeding so your arms and shoulders don’t have to hold everything.
Some mums find them incredibly helpful, especially during long cluster-feeding evenings. Others just use normal pillows from the couch.
Nursing Tops
Nursing tops are clothing designed with hidden openings or panels that allow baby to feed without lifting or removing your shirt.
Some mums love having a few dedicated nursing tops, especially when feeding outside the house. Others simply wear loose tops, button-down shirts, or layered clothing instead.
Pumping Bra
A pumping bra holds breast pump flanges in place so you can pump hands-free. They’re mostly used by mums who pump frequently or return to work while continuing to breastfeed.
If you only pump occasionally, you may not need one.
Silver Nursing Cups
Silver nursing cups are small cups made from pure silver that sit over the nipple between feeds.
Silver naturally has antibacterial properties, and some mums use these cups to help protect sore or cracked nipples while they heal.
Some find them very soothing in the early days of breastfeeding, while others manage soreness with nipple cream.
Sports Nursing Bra
A sports nursing bra is a supportive bra designed for exercise while still allowing easy access for breastfeeding.
Many mums find that regular nursing bras don’t offer enough support during activities like walking, yoga, or gym workouts once they start moving again after birth.
Steriliser
A steriliser is used to clean bottles, pump parts, and teats. Families who bottle-feed regularly tend to use them more often.
If you mostly breastfeed directly, sterilising may only come up occasionally.
Trolley
A small trolley on wheels becomes a mobile feeding station.
Many mums load one with snacks, water, burp cloths, nipple cream, and pump parts so everything can move around the house with them. It’s not essential, but it’s one of those things that suddenly makes sense once you realise how often you sit down to feed.
Wearable Pump
A wearable pump sits inside your bra and expresses milk hands-free. They’re popular with mums who pump frequently or want to move around while pumping.
They’re not necessary for most mums early on, but can become useful later depending on feeding routines.
As you can see, most breastfeeding products exist to solve very specific situations. Many mums end up needing only a few of them, and sometimes none at all.
Setting Up a Simple Breastfeeding Station
Ever been stuck in a "nap trap"? It's when your baby nods off while feeding, and you're to afraid to budge in case they wake up. Having a few essentials within arm’s reach can make these long feeding sessions much more comfortable, especially in the early weeks when feeds can happen around the clock.
You’re not the only one figuring this out
Breastfeeding can bring up a lot of unexpected questions, especially in the early weeks when everything is new.
If you’re wondering about something, chances are another mum has wondered the same thing.
Inside our Mum’s Grapevine Facebook Groups, thousands of Australian mums share their experiences, ask questions, and support each other through the ups and downs of feeding.
Join your baby group to connect with mums going through the same stage as you.
